Members of the Disability Organisations Joint Front (DOJF) have called on the government to estblish an independent commission, specifically aimed at addressing the issues faced by persons with disabilities, the Parliament’s media division said.
They made this call during a meeting with Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament last week, where they discussed a series of ongoing challenges faced by the disabled community in Sri Lanka.
The meeting was attended by MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, and Chairperson of the DOJF, Rasanjali Pathirage.
The DOJF members highlighted the need for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in the country’s policy-making processes. Despite representing a significant portion of Sri Lanka’s population, people with disabilities are often left out of decisions that directly affect their lives, the members stressed.
One of the key requests put forward during the meeting was the establishment of an independent commission to specifically address the issues faced by persons with disabilities. The DOJF called for a formal coordination programme that would include policy formulation and strategic solutions, ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are met in all sectors, including healthcare, education, and employment.
Furthermore, the DOJF emphasised the importance of passing the Bill to recognise sign language as a national language, a move they believe would greatly enhance communication access for the hearing-impaired community. The organization also pointed out the pressing need for a comprehensive health programme targeting the unique challenges faced by women with hearing impairments.
In addition, the DOJF members requested the Speaker to facilitate the re-establishment of the ‘Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities’ in the Tenth Parliament. This initiative, they argued, would provide a structured platform for addressing the long-standing issues of people with disabilities and ensure that their voices are heard in the legislative process.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne said that for the first time in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, a visually impaired MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva, is serving as a representative. He further mentioned that MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva had already made a formal request to the Secretary General of Parliament to establish the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities. The Speaker assured the DOJF that the caucus would be set up promptly, recognizing its potential to address the critical issues faced by people with disabilities in Sri Lanka, Parliament media division said.
